Chicago Murders Down 50 Percent in January, Police Say

Police investigate the scene where a 23-year-old man was shot to death near 45th Street and Indiana Avenue.
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DNAinfo/Devlin Brown

CHICAGO — Chicago police touted a decrease in crime last month compared to January 2013, citing a 34 percent drop in overall incidents.

Police statistics showed a 43 percent drop in shootings, a 47 percent decline in shooting victims and 50 percent fewer homicides last month than in January 2013.

There were 21 homicides in the city last month, according to DNAinfo Chicago statistics, compared with 42 in January 2013. Last year got off to a bloody start, with four homicides on Jan. 1. Chicago saw its first homicide of 2014 on Jan. 3.

Police said the statistics show an overall trend in declining crime in the city:

• 68 fewer shootings in January 2014 than January 2013, and 62 fewer than in January 2012;

• 88 fewer shooting victims this January than last, and 69 fewer victims than in January 2012;

• 20 fewer murders this year than last, and 18 fewer than January 2012.

Police also recovered 425 illegal guns in January, according to a Chicago Police Department release.

“After historic lows in crime and violence in 2013, January saw continued progress, yet much more work remains to be done, and no one will rest until everyone in Chicago enjoys the same sense of safety," said Supt. Garry McCarthy said, again pushing for more stringent punishment for gun-law violators.

Last month, homicides were down 18 percent compared with January 2013. Police also solved more homicides last year than in 2012, citing a 30 percent clearance rate due to more detectives and community cooperation.

Last month, Mayor Rahm Emanuel praised the Police Department for the dip in crime, but told department brass not to rest on its laurels.

"I know nobody here is spiking the ball. That's not allowed. 2013 was good; 2014 has to be better," he said.